Medford MBTA chief talks about first year on the job

Medford resident Jonathan Davis talks about his first year heading the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA).

Nicholas Iovino/niovino@wickedlocal.com

As Medford resident Jonathan Davis wraps up his first year heading the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), the acting general manager reflected on the greatest challenges of his first 12 months.

Davis recalled those obstacles from a third-floor conference room in the state transportation building in Boston, sitting at the head of a long, wooden table, etched with the MBTA emblem.

“The biggest challenge was the financial difficulties we faced and the need to go out and have the discussion with our customers on fare increases and potential service reductions,” said Davis. “That was the toughest thing that had to be accomplished.”

Earlier this year, the MBTA was confronted with a $185 million budget gap. Davis said he learned a lot from T riders during 31 public meetings held earlier this year to discuss proposals for fixing the budget deficit.

The greatest lesson, he said, was discovering how many people rely on public transportation in the area. For some, public transit is the only form of transportation available.

“I think that helped craft the decisions we had to finally make,” said Davis.

Fares increased by an average of 23 percent in July, but the MBTA kept nearly all of its bus, commuter and subway routes in service. Davis said he heard from multiple riders that when forced to make the choice, they preferred higher fares to less service.

Despite the temporary fix, more long-term solutions will still be needed to ensure the agency’s solvency in the future. This year’s MBTA budget relies on $61 million in one-time revenues and more than $70 million in fare hikes and service cuts.

“It’s clear we don’t have the revenues today to afford the system we have today,” said Davis. “I’m hopeful out of the public meetings we had that transportation and the need to fund it will be high on peoples’ list of things to discuss here at the start of the new year.”

Davis said while he does not set policy regarding public transportation funding, he believes the Legislature needs to look at the issue as a statewide problem.

“It’s not just an MBTA issue. It’s a regional transportation issue,” said Davis. “There are 15 regional transportation authorities scattered across Massachusetts. Some don’t provide weekend service or service after 6 p.m. I think that has to be included in any discussion on funding transportation.”

A regular rider

Almost every weekday, Davis catches the 326 express bus in Medford to Haymarket at 7 a.m. From there, he typically takes the Orange Line to Chinatown, a short walk from the transportation building on Stuart Street.

The current MBTA chief was appointed to the position of acting general manager on Aug. 22, 2011. After working 16 years for the agency, most recently as deputy general manager for the last 10 years, Davis replaced former MBTA chief Richard Davey, who now serves as Gov. Deval Patrick’s Secretary of Transportation.

Prior to arriving at the MBTA in 1995, Davis worked 25 years in the private sector for H.P. Hood, Inc., one of the nation’s largest dairy manufacturers. There, he worked in several financial and corporate management positions.

Davis said he never expected his career path would land him in the field of public transportation. Growing up in Beverly, the North Shore native had aspirations to become an airline pilot, but his academic career steered him toward business.

After graduating from high school, Davis traveled to Ohio where he studied business administration at Defiance College. He later returned to Massachusetts, where he earned a masters in business administration from Babson College in Wellesley.

When Hood started downsizing in the mid-90s, Davis started looking for jobs at other manufacturing companies in Vermont, Wisconsin and on the West Coast. That was before his wife informed him they would not be moving, which convinced him to focus on finding work in the greater Boston area.

Davis has lived in Medford for 25 years. He and his wife have two children.

“I was asked if I was interested in the budget director position [at the MBTA],” said Davis. “It seemed an informational interview and nothing more, but a couple of weeks later, I got a call asking if I’d be interested in the position.”

When Davis accepted the offer, he was not sure how long his time with the MBTA would last before he returned to the corporate world. However, 16 years later, the Medford resident was offered the agency’s top job.

“What I like most are the employees and the customers,” said Davis. “My goal is to provide them a superior ride every single day.”

Technology

Davis said he personally relies on MBTA smart phone applications to help him find the quickest public transit route to get to and from work and other destinations.

“I really do believe that’s been part of our success in increasing ridership,” said Davis. “People now can find real time data on when their bus will be at their bus stop.”

Davis said the MBTA also recently started a pilot program for commuter rail customers to purchase tickets with mobile phones.

Countdown clocks that alert customers how far away trains are at subway stations will also expand to new stations this year. The countdown clocks are currently at South Station and Park Street.

“The MBTA turned 115 years old this year,” said Davis. “We’re the oldest subway in America, but I also like to think we’re the leader in innovation in transit.”

South Korea

As Davis sat down to look back on his first year, the Medford resident was also preparing to travel to South Korea on MBTA business.

The acting GM departed Sept. 7 to meet with executives from Hyundai Rotem. The South Korean company is at least 18 months behind schedule in delivering 75 new double-decker cars to replace some of the MBTA’s aging commuter rail fleet.

The new cars were supposed to be rolled out this year at a cost of over $100 million. Davis said the MBTA should be able to recapture some of that money due to the schedule slippage.

“They are significantly behind on the delivery of these vehicles,” said Davis. “In fact, we have received none so far.”

In addition to meeting Hyundai Rotem CEO Min ho Lee, Davis also planned to tour the company’s production plant and hold a discussion with those responsible for the production lines.

Davis said the two main objectives of the trip are to hammer out a solid schedule the company can hold itself to on delivering the cars and to insure the cars are constructed with good quality.

“This is very important from a reliability standpoint and a comfort standpoint for our customers who loyally take the commuter rail every single day,” Davis said.